The performer- it never tracked with me that in the time it took JJ to get to this girls house they went to 2 different crime scenes, delivered a profile and arrested Dante (they even said that drive took 30 minutes) but made it there in the time it took JJ to walk in and get knocked out. So I decided to rewrite the ending.
….
JJ pulled up outside the old house. It was clear it was once a beautiful home but years of neglect had taken its toll. Still she was not here to judge the friends of the victims she was here to help. It was a job she took seriously. Checking in with base they had there suspect, her job now was to try to connect Tara to him personally. The broken gate swung open easily, the junk in the yard didn't register until after she had hung up the phone. Housekeeping apparently wasn't a strong point for Gina.
She took a deep breath centring herself it was essential to have your own emotions in check before sharing someone else's burden. Knocking loudly she brushed off the peeling paint chips wiping them off her knuckles and onto her skirt peering through the window she didn't have to wait long to meet Gina.
"Don't do that" she stuttered "My grandma is asleep, she is going to wake up soon." Gina became agitated JJ noticed she couldn't keep eye contact or even keep still on the spot. "You have to stop it. I have to go I have to go to the yard" concerned JJ stepped forward but Gina was already gone weaving through the rabbit warren of boxes.
Worried JJ stepped into the house "Gina" she called closing the door. The girl was clearly struggling with her friend's death, taking it harder than anyone could imagine, and it looked like there wasn't a lot of support for her either. Inside the house looked worse than outside reminding JJ of the show Hoarders. Whether Gina or the grandma was the hoarder remained to be seen but JJ's concern increased as she followed Gina weaving between boxes.
"Gina," JJ said trying to call her back not exactly thrilled to be chasing through the dirt. "Gina," she called again. "I'm with the FBI" she trailed off as Gina disappeared around a corner without even acknowledging she had heard her.
JJ continued through the house sadly, where would you even start sorting this stuff out. Having lost sight of Gina a few times she hit a dead end but continued to where she guessed 'the yard' would be calling Gina's name. If she had to guess she would say Tara's death had probably caused some deep trauma and Gina was needing urgent help. It didn't even cross her mind that this 16 year old girl was the unsub not until she was her in the greenhouse, a bottle of blood perhaps even Tara's blood sat on the work surface. Instantly her hand went for her hip and she slowly pulled out her gun.
"Gina," she called again this time moving to keep her line of sight clean and keeping her voice steady and body language non-threatening just like they had been taught.
From nowhere there was a blinding pain across the back of her head.